1 A bimeleque, filho de Jerubaal, foi a Siquém, aos irmãos de sua mãe, e falou-lhes, e a toda a parentela da casa de pai de sua mãe, dizendo:

Then Abimelech the son of Jerubbaal went to Shechem, to his mother’s brothers, and spoke with them and with all the family of the house of his mother’s father, saying,

2 F alai, peço-vos, aos ouvidos de todos os cidadãos de Siquém: Que é melhor para vós? que setenta homens, todos os filhos de Jerubaal, dominem sobre vós, ou que um só domine sobre vós? Lembrai-vos também de que sou vosso osso e vossa carne.

“Please speak in the hearing of all the men of Shechem: ‘Which is better for you, that all seventy of the sons of Jerubbaal reign over you, or that one reign over you?’ Remember that I am your own flesh and bone.”

3 E ntão os irmãos de sua mãe falaram todas essas palavras a respeito dele aos ouvidos de todos os cidadãos de Siquém; e o coração deles se inclinou a seguir Abimeleque; pois disseram: E nosso irmão.

And his mother’s brothers spoke all these words concerning him in the hearing of all the men of Shechem; and their heart was inclined to follow Abimelech, for they said, “He is our brother.”

4 E deram-lhe setenta siclos de prata, da casa de Baal-Berite, com os quais alugou Abimeleque alguns homens ociosos e le9

So they gave him seventy shekels of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith, with which Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men; and they followed him.

5 e foi ã casa de seu pai, a Ofra, e matou a seus irmãos, os filhos de Jerubaal, setenta homens, sobre uma só pedra. Mas Jotão, filho menor de Jerubaal, ficou, porquanto se tinha escondido.

Then he went to his father’s house at Ophrah and killed his brothers, the seventy sons of Jerubbaal, on one stone. But Jotham the youngest son of Jerubbaal was left, because he hid himself.

6 E ntão se ajuntaram todos os cidadãos de Siquém e toda a Bete-Milo, e foram, e constituíram rei a Abimeleque, junto ao carvalho da coluna que havia em Siquém.

And all the men of Shechem gathered together, all of Beth Millo, and they went and made Abimelech king beside the terebinth tree at the pillar that was in Shechem. The Parable of the Trees

7 J otão, tendo sido avisado disso, foi e, pondo-se no cume do monte Gerizim, levantou a voz e clamou, dizendo: Ouvi-me a mim, cidadãos de Siquém, para que Deus: vos ouça a vos.

Now when they told Jotham, he went and stood on top of Mount Gerizim, and lifted his voice and cried out. And he said to them: “Listen to me, you men of Shechem, That God may listen to you!

8 F oram uma vez as árvores a ungir para si um rei; e disseram ã oliveira: Reina tu sobre nós.

“The trees once went forth to anoint a king over them. And they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us!’

9 M as a oliveira lhes respondeu: Deixaria eu a minha gordura, que Deus e os homens em mim prezam, para ir balouçar sobre as árvores?

But the olive tree said to them, ‘Should I cease giving my oil, With which they honor God and men, And go to sway over trees?’

10 E ntão disseram as árvores ã figueira: Vem tu, e reina sobre nós.

“Then the trees said to the fig tree, ‘You come and reign over us!’

11 M as a figueira lhes respondeu: Deixaria eu a minha doçura, o meu bom fruto, para ir balouçar sobre as árvores?

But the fig tree said to them, ‘Should I cease my sweetness and my good fruit, And go to sway over trees?’

12 D isseram então as árvores ã videira: Vem tu, e reina sobre nós.

“Then the trees said to the vine, ‘You come and reign over us!’

13 M as a videira lhes respondeu: Deixaria eu o meu mosto, que alegra a Deus e aos homens, para ir balouçar sobre as árvores?

But the vine said to them, ‘Should I cease my new wine, Which cheers both God and men, And go to sway over trees?’

14 E ntão todas as árvores disseram ao espinheiro: Vem tu, e reina sobre nós.

“Then all the trees said to the bramble, ‘You come and reign over us!’

15 O espinheiro, porém, respondeu

And the bramble said to the trees, ‘If in truth you anoint me as king over you, Then come and take shelter in my shade; But if not, let fire come out of the bramble And devour the cedars of Lebanon!’

16 A gora, pois, se de boa fé e com retidão procedestes, constituindo rei a Abimeleque, e se bem fizestes para com Jerubaal e para com a sua casa, e se com ele usastes conforme o merecimento das suas mãos

“Now therefore, if you have acted in truth and sincerity in making Abimelech king, and if you have dealt well with Jerubbaal and his house, and have done to him as he deserves—

17 ( porque meu pai pelejou por vós, desprezando a própria vida, e vos livrou da mão de Midiã;

for my father fought for you, risked his life, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian;

18 p orém vós hoje vos levantastes contra a casa de meu pai, e matastes a seus filhos, setenta homens, sobre uma só pedra; e a Abimeleque, filho da sua serva, fizestes reinar sobre os cidadãos de Siquém, porque é vosso irmão);

but you have risen up against my father’s house this day, and killed his seventy sons on one stone, and made Abimelech, the son of his female servant, king over the men of Shechem, because he is your brother—

19 s e de boa fé e com retidão procedestes hoje para com Jerubaal e para com a sua casa, alegrai-vos em Abimeleque, e também ele se alegre em vós;

if then you have acted in truth and sincerity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you.

20 m as se não, saia fogo de Abimeleque, e devore os cidadãos de Siquém, e a Bete-Milo; e saia fogo dos cidadãos de Siquém e de Bete-Milo, e devore Abimeleque.

“But if not, let fire come from Abimelech and devour the men of Shechem and Beth Millo; and let fire come from the men of Shechem and from Beth Millo and devour Abimelech!”

21 E partindo Jotão, fugiu e foi para Beer, e ali habitou, por medo de Abimeleque, seu irmão.

And Jotham ran away and fled; and he went to Beer and dwelt there, for fear of Abimelech his brother. Downfall of Abimelech

22 H avendo Abimeleque reinado três anos sobre Israel,

After Abimelech had reigned over Israel three years,

23 D eus suscitou um espírito mau entre Abimeleque e os cidadãos de Siquém; e estes procederam aleivosamente para com Abimeleque;

God sent a spirit of ill will between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech,

24 p ara que a violência praticada contra os setenta filhos de Jerubaal, como também o sangue deles, recaíssem sobre Abimeleque, seu irmão, que os matara, e sobre os cidadãos de Siquém, que fortaleceram as mãos dele para matar a seus irmãos.

that the crime done to the seventy sons of Jerubbaal might be settled and their blood be laid on Abimelech their brother, who killed them, and on the men of Shechem, who aided him in the killing of his brothers.

25 E os cidadãos de Siquém puseram de emboscada contra ele, sobre os cumes dos montes, homens que roubavam a todo aquele que passava por eles no caminho. E contou-se isto a Abimeleque.

And the men of Shechem set men in ambush against him on the tops of the mountains, and they robbed all who passed by them along that way; and it was told Abimelech.

26 T ambém veio Gaal, filho de Ebede, com seus irmãos, e estabeleceu-se em Siquém; e confiaram nele os cidadãos de Siquém.

Now Gaal the son of Ebed came with his brothers and went over to Shechem; and the men of Shechem put their confidence in him.

27 S aindo ao campo, vindimaram as suas vinhas, pisaram as uvas e fizeram uma festa; e, entrando na casa de seu deus, comeram e beberam, e amaldiçoaram a Abimeleque.

So they went out into the fields, and gathered grapes from their vineyards and trod them, and made merry. And they went into the house of their god, and ate and drank, and cursed Abimelech.

28 E disse Gaal, filho de Ebede: Quem é Abimeleque, e quem é Siquém, para que sirvamos a Abimeleque? não é, porventura, filho de Jerubaal? e não é Zebul o seu mordomo? Servi antes aos homens de Hamor, pai de Siquém; pois, por que razão serviríamos nós a Abimeleque?

Then Gaal the son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelech, and who is Shechem, that we should serve him? Is he not the son of Jerubbaal, and is not Zebul his officer? Serve the men of Hamor the father of Shechem; but why should we serve him?

29 A h! se este povo estivesse sob a minha mão, eu transtornaria a Abimeleque. Eu lhe diria: Multiplica o teu exército, e vem.

If only this people were under my authority! Then I would remove Abimelech.” So he said to Abimelech, “Increase your army and come out!”

30 Q uando Zebul, o governador da cidade, ouviu as palavras de Gaal, filho de Ebede, acendeu-se em ira.

When Zebul, the ruler of the city, heard the words of Gaal the son of Ebed, his anger was aroused.

31 E enviou secretamente mensageiros a Abimeleque, para lhe dizerem: Eis que Gaal, filho de Ebede, e seus irmãos vieram a Siquém, e estão sublevando a cidade contra ti.

And he sent messengers to Abimelech secretly, saying, “Take note! Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers have come to Shechem; and here they are, fortifying the city against you.

32 L evanta-te, pois, de noite, tu e o povo que tiveres contigo, e põe-te de emboscada no campo.

Now therefore, get up by night, you and the people who are with you, and lie in wait in the field.

33 E pela manhã, ao nascer do sol, levanta-te, e dá de golpe sobre a cidade; e, saindo contra ti Gaal e o povo que tiver com ele, faze-lhe como te permitirem as circunstâncias.

And it shall be, as soon as the sun is up in the morning, that you shall rise early and rush upon the city; and when he and the people who are with him come out against you, you may then do to them as you find opportunity.”

34 L evantou-se, pois, de noite Abimeleque, e todo o povo que com ele havia, e puseram emboscadas a Siquém, em quatro bandos.

So Abimelech and all the people who were with him rose by night, and lay in wait against Shechem in four companies.

35 E Gaal, filho de Ebede, saiu e pôs-se ã entrada da porta da cidade; e das emboscadas se levantou Abimeleque, e todo o povo que estava com ele.

When Gaal the son of Ebed went out and stood in the entrance to the city gate, Abimelech and the people who were with him rose from lying in wait.

36 Q uando Gaal viu aquele povo, disse a Zebul: Eis que desce gente dos cumes dos montes. Respondeu-lhe Zebul: Tu vês as sombras dos montes como se fossem homens.

And when Gaal saw the people, he said to Zebul, “Look, people are coming down from the tops of the mountains!” But Zebul said to him, “You see the shadows of the mountains as if they were men.”

37 G aal, porém, tornou a falar, e disse: Eis que desce gente do meio da terra; também vem uma tropa do caminho do carvalho de Meonenim.

So Gaal spoke again and said, “See, people are coming down from the center of the land, and another company is coming from the Diviners’ Terebinth Tree.”

38 E ntão lhe disse Zebul: Onde está agora a tua boca, com a qual dizias: Quem é Abimeleque, para que o sirvamos? Não é esse, porventura, o povo que desprezaste. Sai agora e peleja contra ele!

Then Zebul said to him, “Where indeed is your mouth now, with which you said, ‘Who is Abimelech, that we should serve him?’ Are not these the people whom you despised? Go out, if you will, and fight with them now.”

39 A ssim saiu Gaal, ã frente dos cidadãos de Siquém, e pelejou contra Abimeleque.

So Gaal went out, leading the men of Shechem, and fought with Abimelech.

40 M as Abimeleque o perseguiu, pois Gaal fugiu diante dele, e muitos caíram feridos até a entrada da porta.

And Abimelech chased him, and he fled from him; and many fell wounded, to the very entrance of the gate.

41 A bimeleque ficou em Arumá. E Zebul expulsou Gaal e seus irmãos, para que não habitassem em Siquém.

Then Abimelech dwelt at Arumah, and Zebul drove out Gaal and his brothers, so that they would not dwell in Shechem.

42 N o dia seguinte sucedeu que o povo saiu ao campo; disto foi avisado Abimeleque,

And it came about on the next day that the people went out into the field, and they told Abimelech.

43 o qual, tomando o seu povo, dividiu-o em três bandos, que pôs de emboscada no campo. Quando viu que o povo saía da cidade, levantou-se contra ele e o feriu.

So he took his people, divided them into three companies, and lay in wait in the field. And he looked, and there were the people, coming out of the city; and he rose against them and attacked them.

44 A bimeleque e os que estavam com ele correram e se puseram ã porta da cidade; e os outros dois bandos deram de improviso sobre todos quantos estavam no campo, e os feriram.

Then Abimelech and the company that was with him rushed forward and stood at the entrance of the gate of the city; and the other two companies rushed upon all who were in the fields and killed them.

45 A bimeleque pelejou contra a cidade todo aquele dia, tomou-a e matou o povo que nela se achava; e, assolando-a, a semeou de sal.

So Abimelech fought against the city all that day; he took the city and killed the people who were in it; and he demolished the city and sowed it with salt.

46 T endo ouvido isso todos os cidadãos de Migdol-Siquém, entraram na fortaleza, na casa de El-Berite.

Now when all the men of the tower of Shechem had heard that, they entered the stronghold of the temple of the god Berith.

47 E contou-se a Abimeleque que todos os cidadãos de Migbol-Siquém se haviam congregado.

And it was told Abimelech that all the men of the tower of Shechem were gathered together.

48 E ntão Abimeleque subiu ao monte Zalmom, ele e todo o povo que com ele havia; e, tomando na mão um machado, cortou um ramo de árvore e, levantando-o, pô-lo ao seu ombro, e disse ao povo que estava com ele: O que me vistes fazer, apressai-vos a fazê-lo também.

Then Abimelech went up to Mount Zalmon, he and all the people who were with him. And Abimelech took an ax in his hand and cut down a bough from the trees, and took it and laid it on his shoulder; then he said to the people who were with him, “What you have seen me do, make haste and do as I have done. ”

49 T endo, pois, cada um cortado o seu ramo, seguiram a Abimeleque; e, pondo os ramos junto da fortaleza, queimaram-na a fogo com os que nela estavam; de modo que morreram também todos os de Migdol-Siquém, cerca de mil homens e mulheres.

So each of the people likewise cut down his own bough and followed Abimelech, put them against the stronghold, and set the stronghold on fire above them, so that all the people of the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.

50 E ntão Abimeleque foi a Tebez, e a sitiou e tomou.

Then Abimelech went to Thebez, and he encamped against Thebez and took it.

51 H avia, porém, no meio da cidade uma torre forte, na qual se refugiaram todos os habitantes da cidade, homens e mulheres; e fechando após si as portas, subiram ao eirado da torre.

But there was a strong tower in the city, and all the men and women—all the people of the city—fled there and shut themselves in; then they went up to the top of the tower.

52 E Abimeleque, tendo chegado até a torre, atacou-a, e chegou-se ã porta da torre, para lhe meter fogo.

So Abimelech came as far as the tower and fought against it; and he drew near the door of the tower to burn it with fire.

53 N isso uma mulher lançou a pedra superior de um moinho sobre a cabeça de Abimeleque, e quebrou-lhe o crânio.

But a certain woman dropped an upper millstone on Abimelech’s head and crushed his skull.

54 E ntão ele chamou depressa o moço, seu escudeiro, e disse-lhe: Desembainha a tua espada e mata-me, para que não se diga de mim: uma mulher o matou. E o moço o traspassou e ele morreu.

Then he called quickly to the young man, his armorbearer, and said to him, “Draw your sword and kill me, lest men say of me, ‘A woman killed him.’” So his young man thrust him through, and he died.

55 V endo, pois, os homens de Israel que Abimeleque já era morto, foram-se cada um para o seu lugar.

And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, they departed, every man to his place.

56 A ssim Deus fez tornar sobre Abimeleque o mal que tinha feito a seu pai, matando seus setenta irmãos;

Thus God repaid the wickedness of Abimelech, which he had done to his father by killing his seventy brothers.

57 c omo também fez tornar sobre a cabeça dos homens de Siquém todo o mal que fizeram; e veio sobre eles a maldição de Jotão, filho de Jerubaal.

And all the evil of the men of Shechem God returned on their own heads, and on them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal.